Best Natural Foods Grocery 2013

Seward Co-op hits the sweet spot between luxury grocery store and health-food shop. Its aisles are neither dusty nor cramped, but no space is wasted. The spacious produce section is full of mostly local and/or organic items, easy to navigate but not lacking in DIY charm, often featuring handprinted signs pointing out the best seasonal buys, such as particularly tasty parsnips this winter (they really were!). All the bulk foodstuffs you'd expect are here, but so is a fully stocked meat and fish counter. There's a large selection of poison-free body-care products, and all the semi-healthy packaged snack options you could hope for. And then there's the deli: Seward makes a delicious salsa and an impressive banh mi, among other house-made sandwiches, salads, and entrees. And that's before you get to the ever-tempting pastry case. Cooking classes, tastings, live music, and events such as the annual CSA Fair dot the co-op's schedule, enticing neighbors to shop and stay awhile. And the store is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, so whether you're picking up a prepared lunch or doing the full family grocery run, Seward has you covered.